Anhydrosafflor yellow B is a quinolone C-glycoside isolated from safflower (Carthamus tinctorius). Anhydrosafflor yellow B inhibits ADP-induced platelet aggregation and possesses antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. Anhydrosafflor yellow B can be used in neuroscience and neurological disease research[1-4].
In vitro, Anhydrosafflor yellow B (100–200μM) pretreated a neuron-astrocyte co-culture system for 2 hours, followed by stimulation with 6-OHDA (10μM) for 24 hours. Anhydrosafflor yellow B significantly reduced neuronal apoptosis rate, increased cell survival rate, and decreased IL-1β and IL-10 levels[5]. Anhydrosafflor yellow B (50–200μM) pretreated differentiated PC12 cells for 6 hours, followed by stimulation with Rotenone (0.5μM) for 24 hours. Anhydrosafflor yellow B significantly increased cell viability and suppressed the decreased cell area induced by Rotenone[6].
In vivo, Anhydrosafflor yellow B (50μmol/kg; single injection) was intraperitoneally administered to C57BL/6J mice with acute lung injury model. Anhydrosafflor yellow B alleviated lung histopathological changes in mice, inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, reduced the lung wet-to-dry weight ratio and protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, decreased the number of total cells and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and suppressed the co-localization of myeloperoxidase and histone as well as the formation of myeloperoxidase-DNA complexes[7]. Anhydrosafflor yellow B (2, 4, 8mg/kg; once daily) was intravenously injected via the tail vein to Sprague-Dawley rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion model for 4 consecutive days. Anhydrosafflor yellow B effectively reduced infarct volume, improved neurological function, inhibited apoptosis, and decreased oxidative stress response[8].
References:
[1] Chen G, Li C, Zhang L, et al. Hydroxysafflor yellow A and anhydrosafflor yellow B alleviate ferroptosis and parthanatos in PC12 cells injured by OGD/R. Free Radic Biol Med. 2022 Feb 1;179:1-10.
[2] Ablat N, Liu R, Ablimit M, et al. Preventive effects of a standardized flavonoid extract of safflower in rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease rat model. Neuropharmacology. 2022 Oct 1;217:109209.
[3] Zhou J, Zhou C, Chen Q, et al. Integrating in silico and experimental approaches to uncover the anti-apoptotic effects of anhydrosafflor yellow B via JNK/Bid pathway in ischemic stroke. Brain Res. 2025 Nov 15;1867:149947.
[4] Yue S, Wu L, Wang J, et al. Metabolic profile of anhydrosafflor yellow B in rats by ultra-fast liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2016 Mar 1;1014:37-44.
[5] Lei H, Ren R, Sun Y, et al. Neuroprotective Effects of Safflower Flavonoid Extract in 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Model of Parkinson's Disease May Be Related to its Anti-Inflammatory Action. Molecules. 2020 Nov 9;25(21):5206.
[6] Ren R, Shi C, Cao J, et al. Neuroprotective Effects of A Standardized Flavonoid Extract of Safflower Against Neurotoxin-Induced Cellular and Animal Models of Parkinson's Disease. Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 24;6:22135.
[7] Wang YP, Guo Y, Wen PS, et al. Three Ingredients of Safflower Alleviate Acute Lung Injury and Inhibit NET Release Induced by Lipopolysaccharide. Mediators Inflamm. 2020 Feb 29;2020:2720369.
[8] Fangma Y, Zhou H, Shao C, et al. Hydroxysafflor Yellow A and Anhydrosafflor Yellow B Protect Against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Attenuating Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis via the Silent Information Regulator 1 Signaling Pathway. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Sep 30;12:739864.